Announcements

Showing 701 - 725 of 1177 results

New service helps tenants and landlords resolve COVID-19 tenancy issues

The McGowan Government has created a free conciliation service to assist renters and landlords reach agreement about coronavirus (COVID-19) related tenancy disputes, without having to go to court. The aim of the Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service (RTMCS) is for all sides to reach a fair and achievable solution through informal discussion. Unlike court where a decision is imposed...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 May 2020

Commissioner's Blog: Stay safe from silent killer

Heating appliances will soon be emerging from hibernation as cooler weather sets in, particularly with many of us working from home this winter. If you are using a gas heater, our colleagues at Building and Energy have issued a timely warning about the dangers of exposure to carbon monoxide, which can leak from faulty, poorly maintained or misused gas appliances. Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘...
Building and Energy / Consumer Protection
Media release
14 May 2020

$70,000 in losses reported from victims of COVID-19-related scams

Consumer Protection has received reports from seven victims of scams where COVID-19 was used in the plot to steal a total of about $68,000. Most were the victims of fake websites, social media pages and advertisements in which COVID-19 was used as an excuse for why their online purchases had not been delivered. A Perth-based Chinese student lost $13,800 when scammers called to report her COVID-19...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 May 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by over 25 cents per litre (cpl) to 115.8 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 13 May 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Coles Express hiking by 34 cpl up to 125.9 cpl; Puma up to 125.7 cpl; Caltex...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 May 2020

Tree lopper cut down by Supreme Court after acquittal overturned (Sean Robert Weinthal)

The Supreme Court has overturned the acquittal of a Perth tree lopper and convicted him on six charges of breaking consumer law related to an unsolicited sale after a successful appeal by Consumer Protection. Sean Robert Weinthal , who at the time of the offences was operating under the business name West Coast Trees , was acquitted of the charges by the Perth Magistrates Court in June 2019 but...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 May 2020

Commissioner's Blog: Financial relief for renters

If you’re a tenant who’s lost their job in the coronavirus crunch, you may be wondering how to afford what’s likely the household’s biggest weekly expense – the rent. To relieve some of the burden, the State Government has announced a $30 million residential rental relief scheme, which will see payments equivalent of four weeks’ rent up to a maximum of $2000 granted to landlords on behalf of...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 May 2020

Applications open for COVID-19 rent relief grant

COVID-19 rent grant updates See the latest announcement on the Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme for current eligibility and application details. More than 18,000 people have wanted to know how WA’s new rent relief scheme works, with hundreds having started their application, hoping for a grant covering four weeks’ rent up to $2,000. The State Government’s $30 million Residential Rent Relief...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 May 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by over 25 cents per litre (cpl) to 111.9 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 6 May 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Coles Express hiking by 34 cpl up to 121.9 cpl; 7-Eleven, Caltex Woolworths, Caltex...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 May 2020

Commissioner's Blog: New COVID-19 tenancy laws

Keeping a roof over everyone’s head has never been more important as thousands of people suffer job losses due to the economic fall-out of COVID-19 coronavirus restrictions. New laws are now in place to ensure renters can stay in their homes and businesses won’t have to leave their premises, while recognising that landlords shouldn’t be unnecessarily burdened. The emergency residential tenancy...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Apr 2020

$21,000 in fines and compensation for overcharging management fees 132 times (Arcturus Nominees Pty Ltd / Polaris Realty / Robyn Staggard)

A Caversham real estate agency and its property manager have been fined a total of $12,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal for overcharging eight owners of Pilbara rental properties 132 times. Arcturus Nominees Pty Ltd , trading as Polaris Realty , was fined $8,000 and property manager Robyn Dale Staggard was fined $4,000 for failing to exercise due care, diligence and skill, breaching the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Apr 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 23 cents per litre (cpl) to 109.6 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 29 April 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex Woolworths, BP and Coles Express hiking by 32-36 cpl up to 119.9 cpl;...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Apr 2020

New $154.5 million relief package to support tenants, landlords and construction industry

The McGowan Government has announced a new package to support tenants, landlords and the construction industry in the COVID-19 pandemic. The package adds to the McGowan Government's $1.7 billion stimulus and relief package for businesses and households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It complements the introduction of a six-month freeze on rent increases, the moratorium on evictions from March...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Apr 2020

Spa supplier in hot water over missing warnings (Hunter Products Pty Ltd / Jeffrey Hunter)

Failing to display warning labels on the retail packaging of portable spas has prompted the supplier to introduce strict new quality assurance procedures and donate $10,000 to Royal Life Saving Australia. The measures are part of an enforceable undertaking entered into by Hunter Products Pty Ltd and its sole director Jeffrey Donald Hunter after Consumer Protection commenced legal action in the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Apr 2020

Moratorium on residential tenancy evictions becomes law in WA

A six-month moratorium on residential tenancy evictions will now become law, with legislation introduced by the McGowan Government passing the Western Australian Parliament. The new laws implement the decision of the National Cabinet and are designed to prevent tenants from having to move out or being made homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, tenants can still have their leases...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Apr 2020

Eviction moratorium and code of conduct to protect WA businesses

New laws introduced by the McGowan Government to establish a six-month moratorium on evictions for certain commercial tenancies in Western Australia and establish a mandatory code of conduct to assist with negotiations between landlords and tenants have now passed the WA Parliament. The aim of the legislation is to help small commercial tenants that are now in financial distress to survive the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Apr 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 23 cents per litre (cpl) to 109.8 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 22 April 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex Woolworths, Caltex and Coles Express hiking by 34-36 cpl to 119.9 cpl; BP...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Apr 2020

New laws to provide support for commercial and residential tenants and landlords

Urgent legislation to implement a range of measures to minimise financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on tenants and landlords of both commercial and residential tenancies will be introduced into State Parliament this week. The Commercial Tenancies (COVID-19 Response) Bill 2020 will introduce a moratorium on evictions for small commercial tenancies and provide a range of other measures to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Apr 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 17 cents per litre (cpl) to 108.7 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 15 April 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex Woolworths and Caltex hiking by 33-34 cpl to 119.9 cpl; Vibe up to 118.5...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Apr 2020

Costco fuel outlet now reports prices to FuelWatch

The Costco fuel outlet at Perth Airport will now be required to report its prices to FuelWatch when new regulations come into effect tomorrow. Previously, the member-based fuel retailer was exempt as the Petroleum Products Pricing Act 1983 (WA) did not cover fuel sales when there is an existing agreement between the customer and the fuel retailer. The law has been changed so Costco cannot claim...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Apr 2020

Investment scammer targeting regional West Aussies

Western Australians are warned to be on high alert for unsolicited SMS or social-media messages urging them to inject money into a fraudulent scheme disguised as an investment opportunity. Consumer Protection is aware of an investment scam circulating in the WA community that claims almost $22 million can be unlocked from an international account if the recipient pays part of the $500,000...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Apr 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 111.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 8 April 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex hiking by 34 cpl to 123.9 cpl; BP, Caltex Woolworths and 7-Eleven to 119.9...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Apr 2020

Penalty for real estate trust fund theft – Jason John Vecchio

A real estate agency manager recently jailed for fraud has been ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and costs for taking more than $220,000 of clients’ money from trust accounts. At Perth Magistrates Court on 18 March 2020, Jason John Vecchio pleaded guilty to 15 breaches of the Real Estate and Business Agents Act for unauthorised withdrawals and mismanagement of the trust accounts in 2015. Mr...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Apr 2020

Tenants urged to continue to pay rent if they can

WA tenants are being urged by Consumer Protection to continue to pay their rent unless they are genuinely experiencing severe financial hardship. Landlords and agents are also encouraged to show compassion and to negotiate with tenants who may have lost their employment as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The agency has receive a number of calls from concerned landlords who claim...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Apr 2020

Commissioner's Blog: Weigh-up your rights as gyms close

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe Fitness fanatics may be left wondering what will happen to their gym memberships with ‘non-essential’ services like gymnasiums now shutdown around the country as part of the State and Federal Governments’ continuing efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. Consumers might be wondering whether they are still required to pay...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Apr 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by over 15 cents per litre (cpl) to 115.6 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 1 April 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price - Caltex hiking by 33 cpl to 129.9 cpl, BP to 126.9 cpl, 7-Eleven to 125.9 cpl,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
31 Mar 2020

Pages